The 12th Congress of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers ‘Party) was held on May 5-7, 2025, in the guerrilla-held Medya Defense Zones in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq). On May 9, the PKK announced that the congress had been held and shared the decisions taken at the congress and the final declaration with the public on May 12.

The Party of Free Women of Kurdistan (PAJK) Coordination Member Evindar Ararat shared her views as a congress delegate and stated the following:

The Congress was convened to put the Leader's decision into practice

The discussions we will hold and the decisions we will make at the congress are strategic. We are evaluating decisions regarding the strategic transformation of the struggle. This congress was convened for this purpose. No PKK congress has been held for the past 14 years. Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan] also stated that the process ahead would be one of profound criticism and self-criticism. This congress will make this decision in accordance with the strategic perspective and decision of the Leader, with cadre strength, as the militants of Leader Apo and within the official mechanism of the party. This congress was convened with the principle of putting the Leader's decision into practice. We are discussing this. The congress is historic. The decisions it will make and its content are historic, and the stance we are taking is historic.

The Leader is changing the strategy of the long-term revolutionary people's war struggle

The Leader has initiated a process; he is changing the strategy of the long-term revolutionary people's war struggle. He is transforming our struggle strategy into a democratic struggle strategy, into democratic politics. However, the struggle for democratic politics cannot be without self-defense. The democratic struggle strategy, democratic politics, encompasses self-defense in a very comprehensive way. In other words, it is not one-sided. It is also incorrect to limit self-defense solely to armed struggle. In our new paradigm, the Leader evaluates self-defense in a very broad sense. It includes alliance, diplomacy, the struggle for democracy, and social organization; it is defined as the fundamental defense force that includes society in the defense as a whole. This is comprehensive; it has a philosophical dimension, a spiritual dimension, a cultural and linguistic dimension...

The Kurdish people are the most organized and politicized people

As a defensive force, laying down arms and surrendering weapons should not take place until a permanent agreement is reached. In other words, this should not happen until legal and judicial guarantees are provided. We are suspending armed struggle as a strategic approach. However, the organization of the defensive force must continue. This is a fundamental condition. Defense is only possible on this basis. If we had included the people in the defense, perhaps we would not have faced such difficulties, the isolation of the Leader would not have lasted so long, and we would have brought the Turkish state to the path of a solution earlier, under more favorable conditions. The Leader offers a new alternative with an ideological and philosophical aspect and method of struggle, with women and youth at the forefront. In this context, our gains and advantages are numerous. We are very strong in this respect. Paradigmatically and ideologically, we are very strong. We have great revolutionary gains. We have advantages in many areas, such as the politicization of the Kurdish people, and everyone acknowledges this. Despite our many shortcomings, the Kurdish people are the most organized and politicized people in the Middle East and the world.